SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — Confusion regarding when power would be restored led to an odd day at Marshwood Middle School Tuesday.

According to Randy Stewert, business manager for MSAD 35, although the Middle School lost power at around 5:30 p.m. Monday, officials decided to hold school after an early morning conference Tuesday — despite the school still having no power.

“We made the decision to hold school because we thought power would be restored later in the day,” Stewert said. “We felt we could hold school productively.”

However, around 9 a.m. the town informed school officials power likely wouldn’t be restored until after the academic day was complete — which led to a dilemma because students were already in school.

Stewert said calls went out shortly before 10 a.m. informing parents they could pick up their children without the student being counted as absent for the day.

Bathrooms and water fountains at the school were still functioning despite a loss of power. Students were served a lunch consisting of sandwiches, items from a salad bar, fruit, and milk.

“We have power in all the other schools and we are trying to operate normally,” Stewert said. “The decision was made under the assumption power would be back on later during the school day.”